I beg to move,

That this House has considered the e-petition relating to age-related tax allowances.

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship this afternoon, Mr Hollobone. We have been allocated three hours, but my speech will not last that long or anything like it. I am, however, pleased to...

I beg to move,

That this House has considered the e-petition relating to age-related tax allowances.

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship this afternoon, Mr Hollobone. We have been allocated three hours, but my speech will not last that long or anything like it. I am, however, pleased to...

Surely the hon. Gentleman accepts that one of the Government’s aims is to simplify tax allowances and have one allowance regardless of how old someone is. Is it sensible for an hon. Member over 65 to have higher take-home pay, simply because of age, than someone under 65?

Surely the hon. Gentleman accepts that one of the Government’s aims is to simplify tax allowances and have one allowance regardless of how old someone is. Is it sensible for an hon. Member over 65 to have higher take-home pay, simply because of age, than someone under 65?

I made the point about levelling up rather than levelling down. If we level up the allowances for those under 65, the point will come when they meet what pensioners now get. That would be fairer than damaging pensioners’ incomes now.

The Chancellor in his announcement in last year’s Budget suggested...

I made the point about levelling up rather than levelling down. If we level up the allowances for those under 65, the point will come when they meet what pensioners now get. That would be fairer than damaging pensioners’ incomes now.

The Chancellor in his announcement in last year’s Budget suggested...

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Hollobone. I did not intend to make a speech, but a year or so ago I co-authored a policy to try to simplify allowances and national insurance. I will not dwell on that today, but I thought it was important...

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Hollobone. I did not intend to make a speech, but a year or so ago I co-authored a policy to try to simplify allowances and national insurance. I will not dwell on that today, but I thought it was important...

I am following the hon. Lady’s speech with interest, but the fact is that some pensioners—more granddads than grannies, if I may say, and as a granddad myself, I feel this personally—will find that their incomes reduce as a result of the Government’s 2012 Budget,

while those on the highest...

I am following the hon. Lady’s speech with interest, but the fact is that some pensioners—more granddads than grannies, if I may say, and as a granddad myself, I feel this personally—will find that their incomes reduce as a result of the Government’s 2012 Budget,

while those on the highest...

I hear what the hon. Gentleman is saying, but my understanding is that people will not be affected on a cash basis, although I accept that there is an issue regarding real-terms changes.

There is a significant increase in the number of people who continue to work beyond the age of...

I hear what the hon. Gentleman is saying, but my understanding is that people will not be affected on a cash basis, although I accept that there is an issue regarding real-terms changes.

There is a significant increase in the number of people who continue to work beyond the age of...

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Hollobone. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Luton North (Kelvin Hopkins) on securing the debate, which is somewhat belated, given that it was meant to take place many months ago. However, I commend him for his persistence in...

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Hollobone. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Luton North (Kelvin Hopkins) on securing the debate, which is somewhat belated, given that it was meant to take place many months ago. However, I commend him for his persistence in...

Is it not the case that what is called tax simplification is sometimes simply a cover for making the tax system less progressive and therefore less advantageous to those who are less well off?

Is it not the case that what is called tax simplification is sometimes simply a cover for making the tax system less progressive and therefore less advantageous to those who are less well off?

My hon. Friend makes a powerful point. The Office of Tax Simplification expressed surprise at the way in which the measure was introduced, and I shall go on to quote from the office as I set out the reasons why we do not support the Government’s policy.

It might be helpful...

My hon. Friend makes a powerful point. The Office of Tax Simplification expressed surprise at the way in which the measure was introduced, and I shall go on to quote from the office as I set out the reasons why we do not support the Government’s policy.

It might be helpful...

For the sake of clarity, will the hon. Lady confirm whether the Opposition’s position is that, as a matter of principle, those under the age of 65 should have a lower personal allowance than those over the age of 65?

For the sake of clarity, will the hon. Lady confirm whether the Opposition’s position is that, as a matter of principle, those under the age of 65 should have a lower personal allowance than those over the age of 65?

We are debating today the choices that the Government have made, the way in which this tax allowance change has been implemented, the speed at which it has been implemented, the lack of consultation, the lack of consideration and the lack of will from the Government to consider the impact...

We are debating today the choices that the Government have made, the way in which this tax allowance change has been implemented, the speed at which it has been implemented, the lack of consultation, the lack of consideration and the lack of will from the Government to consider the impact...

I hope to have the opportunity shortly to set out what the current Government have done for pensioners, but given that I did not hear a clear answer as to whether it is a matter of principle, can the hon. Lady confirm that the Labour party has no plans to...

I hope to have the opportunity shortly to set out what the current Government have done for pensioners, but given that I did not hear a clear answer as to whether it is a matter of principle, can the hon. Lady confirm that the Labour party has no plans to...

Again, it would be helpful if the Minister could confirm for those taking part in the debate and for those following it—the many pensioners who have called for the debate and who want to know—what consideration the Government have given to their position and to the fact that pensioners are...

Again, it would be helpful if the Minister could confirm for those taking part in the debate and for those following it—the many pensioners who have called for the debate and who want to know—what consideration the Government have given to their position and to the fact that pensioners are...

I think the point is that pensioners face extra costs in their lives. They often spend more time at home and need more heating in their homes, for example. Someone as far back as Winston Churchill recognised that, which was why he initiated the idea of a greater tax-free allowance...

I think the point is that pensioners face extra costs in their lives. They often spend more time at home and need more heating in their homes, for example. Someone as far back as Winston Churchill recognised that, which was why he initiated the idea of a greater tax-free allowance...

I thank my hon. Friend. The point that he and I make is that the concern about the Government’s change is the lack of notice that many pensioners have had of it. It has not been introduced gradually to give pensioners a chance to readjust their savings plans or earnings...

I thank my hon. Friend. The point that he and I make is that the concern about the Government’s change is the lack of notice that many pensioners have had of it. It has not been introduced gradually to give pensioners a chance to readjust their savings plans or earnings...

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I will give way to the hon. Lady and then to my hon. Friend.

I will give way to the hon. Lady and then to my hon. Friend.

Of course, the hon. Lady will recognise that the Government believe that they will increase the amount of tax that they take from the richest in society by reducing the rate, as opposed to trying to suggest that it is being taken from some of the poorest in our society.

Of course, the hon. Lady will recognise that the Government believe that they will increase the amount of tax that they take from the richest in society by reducing the rate, as opposed to trying to suggest that it is being taken from some of the poorest in our society.

I will give way to my hon. Friend the Member for Luton North and then deal with both points.

I will give way to my hon. Friend the Member for Luton North and then deal with both points.